Front vs back surgery: which is better for stiff spine condition?
NCT ID NCT04968028
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study compares two surgical approaches for severe ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), a condition where a ligament in the spine hardens and presses on the spinal cord. One surgery (ACAF) goes through the front of the neck to remove the hardened ligament and fuse the bones. The other (laminoplasty) goes through the back to create more space for the spinal cord. The trial includes 167 adults with severe OPLL and will track their recovery of arm, leg, and bladder function for two years.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Anterior Controllable Antedisplacement and Fusion (ACAF) surgery
- What this could lead to
- If ACAF proves better, it could become the preferred surgical option for severe cervical OPLL, improving nerve function recovery and quality of life.
- What could go wrong
- This is a single-center trial with 167 participants, so results may not apply to all patients. Both surgeries carry risks like infection, nerve damage, or incomplete recovery.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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167 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Aug 2021
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 70 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. The patient's age is 18-70 years old, regardless of gender; 2. The patient was diagnosed as severe ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (X-ray or CT showed ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament); The imaging findings showed occupied ratio ≥ 60% or involved three or more segments; 3. Symptoms of spinal cord and nerve root compression, or accompanied by spinal cord compression symptoms such as dysfunction of urination and defecation, conservative treatment was ineffective or aggravated gradually; 4. The participant (or his legal guardian) can sign the informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Congenital malformations (including but not limited to occipitocervical malformations, congenital cervical fusion, cervical related neurovascular malformations), ossification of cervical ligamentum flavum, cervical trauma, cervical cancer, cervical tuberculosis and other inflammatory diseases; 2. Patients with other spinal diseases such as thoracolumbar vertebrae that affect clinical symptoms; Patients with motor neuron diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other nervous system diseases; 3. The symptoms were aggravated due to recent trauma; 4. Patients who participated in other clinical trials in recent 3 months; 5. The participant (or his legal guardian) with mental illness and cognitive impairment can not give full informed consent; 6. Those who are in poor health and can not tolerate surgery; The patients were not suitable for surgical treatment after preoperative examination.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University
Jining, Shandong, 272100, China
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Peking University Shenzhen Hospital
Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518036, China
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Shanghai Changhai Hospital
Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200433, China
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Shanghai Changzheng Hospital
Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200003, China
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Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital
Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200003, China
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Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University
Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200333, China
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Shanxi Bethune Hospital
Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030032, China
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The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University
Harbin, Heilongjaing, 150086, China
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The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University
Qingdao, Shandong, 266555, China
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The First Affiliated Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200086, China
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The Second Affiliated Hospital, Air Force Medical University
Xi’an, Shanxi, 710000, China
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Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100053, China
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